New target? Romney says he can beat Obama

SALEM, N.H. – In yet another sign that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is on a roll, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) targeted him at an event here Monday afternoon just hours before the first votes in the Granite State’s primary were to be cast.

{mosads}Romney and the rest of the Republican field have spent most of their energy throughout the campaign harshly criticizing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) – and she was still a target Monday.

But Romney embraced Obama’s theme of change, channeled Clinton’s assertion that a record of change is important and finished by saying that he could beat Obama in the general election.

The former governor spoke of Obama’s victory in Iowa, saying “he surprised a lot of people.”

“He beat them all because he talked about change in Washington,” Romney said to about 100 voters at the Elk Lodge here.

Romney, sounding a lot like Clinton has in recent days, then said that he can beat Obama because he has a long record of producing change.

“I not only talk about change, I can demonstrate change,” he said.

Romney is locked in a tight battle with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in New Hampshire, but he only briefly criticized the Arizona senator Monday.

Romney’s targeting of Obama represents a radical departure for the GOP field and is indicative of Obama’s momentum following his solid win in Iowa last week.

Romney made a similar argument for taking on Obama at the GOP debate Saturday night, saying he looked forward to a “head-to-head” debate with the senator.